Brick Steps for a Country French Porch

Clear and level the area where you will be building the brick steps. Use a vibrator to compact the soil under the foundation. Compacting the soil minimizes future settling, which can result in cracked bricks and uneven steps.

Construct a frame for the steps' concrete foundation out of 2-by-6 lumber. You aren't constructing individual steps at this stage, but just pouring a concrete pad that will support your steps. Mix the cement in a wheelbarrow according to the instructions on the package, and pour the concrete into the wooden frame to a depth of six inches. Lay rebar into the cement in a crisscross pattern as it dries. The rebar adds strength to the concrete and keeps it from cracking.

Lay the interior brick that will form the steps. The interior portion of the steps will be made from your construction-grade bricks. Set out the first level of bricks, leaving about one inch of space between them for mortar. Remember that most steps have a six inch rise and a tread of 21 1/2 inches. When you're satisfied with the bricks' configuration, spread the mortar onto the foundation with a trowel, and lay the bricks in place. Before you lay the bricks in place, smooth mortar over each side that will connect with another brick.

Lay the face brick after you have built the interior brick. You can use decorative brick, but if you want to keep the job simple, use 4-inch-by-8-inch-by-1-1/2-inch face brick. Mix a bag of Portland cement in your wheelbarrow, which holds up better to weather conditions than builder's cement. After you place each brick, use a joint tool to smooth out the mortar between the bricks so the mortar joints are uniform and concave.

Pitch the steps' tread so water will run off it easily. Apply more mortar at the back side of each step so the step is tilted to the front. Standing water deteriorates the bricks and cement over time, so don't skip pitching your steps. Use a level to ensure that the steps tilt downward slightly toward the front.

Lay the riser bricks. The riser bricks are the most visible from the street, so choose these bricks based on their looks. They can be very thin bricks since they are purely decorative. Although you can lay riser bricks in any configuration, laying them horizontally is easiest.

Allow the bricks to cure for 24 to 48 hours. Light foot traffic is okay after 24 hours, but the longer you can let it cure, the more secure the mortar joints will be.